Heating and vibrating device



June 6, 1967 Filed Dec. 8, 1965 VIBRATOR OFF ON L. M. KELLER HEATING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1*

l/VVEN 70/2. Aouise M. Keller June 1967 M. KELLER 3,323,517

HEATING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1965 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office 3,323,517 HEATING ANH) VIERATING DEVICE Louise M. Keller, 223 W. 55th St., Clarendon Hills, ill. 60514 Filed Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 512,402 1 Claim. ((1 128-24.1)

This invention relates in general to administering heat treatment and vibratory massage to a person for therapeutic purposes or merely for inducing relaxation or the like. The invention deals particularly with a device for administering combined heat treatment and vibratory massage to the head, neck, and upper torso region of a person.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for treating the head, neck, and upper torso region of a person, including the eyes, sinus region, ears, throat, and cervical spine, with heat and vibratory massage.

It is another object to provide an improved heat treatment and massage device which is simpler and more effective than those presently utilized for broadly similar treatment.

It is still another object to provide a device which effectively administers heat and vibratory massage treatment for therapeutic effect as either a damp or dry heat applicator, with or without the combined application of oin-tments or the like or purely for inducing relaxation.

It is yet another object to provide a device which assures more effective vibratory massage, coupled with heat treatment.

It is a further object to provide a device of the aforedescribed character which is simply and effectively controlled from readily accessible control means.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by providing a new and improved head and shoulder cover device containing heating elements and strategically positioned vibrating elements. The head and shoulder cover device includes a liner and an outer pad. The liner prevents damage to the outer pad by ointment and the like, if such is used in therapy, for example, while the pad contains the heating and vibrating elements and can be used without the liner.

The cover device simply and effectively encases all strategic parts of the head, neck, and shoulders, including upper back and chest, while permitting unrestricted vision and breathing to the person using the device. The head and shoulder device is constructed according to the present invention so that it readily adapts to various head sizes and configurations while assuring that the heating and vibrating equipment is properly positioned. Control means afford simple control of the massage and heat being administered by the device.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying features of the present invention, in operational position on the head and shoulder region of a person;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through one of the vibratory elements in the device, taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the vibrating element of FIGURE 2, taken along line 3-3 thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the device in operational position on a person;

FIGURE 5 is a rear-elevational view of the device as seen in FIGURE 4; with one of the attaching flaps open in illustration; and

3,323,517 Patented June 6, 1967 FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the devices liner in operational position prior to the heating and vibrating pad being placed over it.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a device embodying features of the present invention is seen generally at 10 in operational relationship covering the head and shoulder region of a person or patient, indicated generally at 11. The device 10 provides heat and vibratory massage treatment to portions of the head 12, neck 14, shoulders 15, upper back 16, and upper chest 17.

The device 10 might be utilized merely to administer relaxing heat and vibratory massage to overcome fatigue, for example, or it might be utilized in the actual therapeutic treatment of the sick. In the latter case, heat application and vibratory massage of the sinus regions of a patients face are readily effected. Other areas of a patients head and shoulder region, including the cervical spine are also effectively treated. Furthermore, the device may readily be utilized in combination with ointments and the like.

The device 10 embodying features of the present invention includes a pad 20 of light, multi-layer fabric having a serpentine network 21 of resistance heating elements sewed between the inner layer 22 and the outer layer 23 of the fabric throughout its extent. The pad 20 is made in the form of a suitably contoured wrap-around mask, secured around the head 12, neck 14, and shoulders 15, and over the upper chest 17 and back 16 of a person receiving treatment. The mask pad 20 fu1ther has vibrating elements 30a, 3%, and 300, mounted in it according to the present invention to provide vibratory massage on the cervical spine area of the neck 14, the front or throat on the neck 14, and the forehead 31 in the sinus region of the person, respectively.

The heating element network 21 and the' individual vibrating elements 30a30c are electrically energized and controlled from a single control module 33, connected to a suitable source of AC. current (not shown) by a conventional electrical cord 34. The module 33 has an outlet cord 35 extending therefrom, terminating in a double entry plug 36. A conventional plug cord 37 connects the heating element network 21 to the double entry plug 36, while conductors 38, 3?, and 40 join together and extend from the vibrating elements Mia-30c, respectively, to a single plug cord 42 which also connects with the double plug 36.

As pointed out, the pad 20 is fabricated into a suitably contoured wrap-around mask. As seen in FIGURE 5, the mask pad 20 has its opposite ends 51 and 52 overlapped and secured together in back of the head 12 and neck 14 region of the person using the device 1%". The pad 20 is fabricated so that a generally rectangular cutout 53 remains over the upper portion of the back of the head 12 when the pad is in place. This permits air circulation to reach the hair and scalp of the person;

In front of the pad mask 20 with the: mask in operational position on a person, suitable eye cutouts 55 are formed to permit unrestricted vision. Immediately below and between the eye cutouts 55 in the front of the mask pad 20 is an aperture complex 56 arranged according to the present invention to provide uninhibited breathing through both the nose and mouth of the person using the device 10, as well as facilitating the intake of liquids or solids. At the same time, a maximum portion of the face of the person is covered by the pad.

The aperture complex 56 includes a generally vertically disposed, opposed pair of nose flaps 57 defined by a vertical slit 58 in the multi-layer pad material, the vertical slit 58 terminating at its lower end at a horizontal slit 59 calculated to lie immediately below the average persons nose. The slit 59 extends horizontally across the face of the user below the nose for distance slightly greater than the nose width.

In operational position on a person, the mask pad 20 fits so that the nose flaps 57 lie alongside the nose, covering its sides in unrestricted fashion as illustrated in FIGURE 4, while the persons breathing through the nostrils is unrestrictedly permitted through the now distended horizontal slit 59. To prevent excessive Widening of the opening at the nose, a fabric strap 20 is sewed at 60 on one end of the slit 59, and releasably secured at the opposite end of the slit 59 to the mask pad with conventional Velcro tape fasteners 61.

Velcro fasteners are conventional, as pointed out. They comprise opposed patches (61 in the aforementioned illustration) of tightly packed fiber barbs which cling to each other when pressed against each other and hold the members on which they are mounted tightly together. They can be separated by applying a moderate separation force with the fingers, for example.

Mouth flaps 65 are formed in opposed relationship in the mask pad 20 below the horizontal slit 59. The flaps 65 are defined on either side of a vertically depending slit 66 which extends from the horizontal slit 59 to a point below where the chin of the normal person is calculated to reside. The flaps 65 are elongated as illustrated in FIG- URE 1 and thus cover the chin of a person regardless of its shape or size while permitting free breathing by the person. Spreading the flaps 65 apart horizontally permits access to the mouth for taking liquids, for example, during treatment.

In operational position on the person the opposite free ends 51 and 52 of the mask pad 20 are also held closed by Velcro fasteners 70 and 71. The fasteners 70 are mounted adjacent the lower edges of the mask ends 51 and 52, in opposed relationship, as illustrated, while the fastener pads 71 are mounted adjacent the upper edges of the ends 51 and 52, in opposed relationship. When the mask pad 20 is wrapped around a persons head, the fasteners 70 and 71 are pressed together in conventional fashion and assist in holding the pad 20 in place on the persons head.

Additional attaching means also cross the generally rectangular cutout 53 at the back of the head of the mask 20 to assist in holding the pad in place. These attaching means include a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal straps 80 and 81 attached to the pad on opposite sides of the cutout 53. The straps 80 and 81 have opposed Velcro fastener pads 82 mounted on their free ends 83. With the pad 20 in operational position, the straps 80 and 81 are pulled tightly across back of the head of the person and the Velcro pads 82 pressed together to secure the straps.

A vertically disposed pair of straps 85 and 86 are attached to the top of the pad 20 as at 88, for example, and to the back of the neck of the pad, as at 89, respectively. These straps 85 and 86 have Velcro fastener pads 90 mounted on their free ends in opposed relationship, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Pulling the straps 85 and 86 together and pressing the pad 90 against one another further secures the mask pad 20 in place on the persons head.

In addition to the aforedescribed arrangement for fastening the mask pad 20 to a person, an elongated neck strap 93 is secured at 95 adjacent its mid-point, by sewing or the like, to the pad 20 Where it normally overlies the back of the neck 44 of the person. The free ends 97 of the strap 93 depend loosely from the attaching point 95 until the pad has been positioned on a persons head in the manner aforedescribed. The straps 93 are then pulled around under the chin of the person and the free ends 97 tied there as illustrated in FIGURE 4, to further hold the mask pad 20 in place.

With the mask pad 20 properly in place on a person, the heating element network 21 covers virtually the entire head, neck, shoulder, upper back and upper chest of the user. By manipulating the conventional rheostatic heat pad control 1013 on the control module 33, the amount of resistance heating effected by the heating element network 21 is easily regulated by the user to achieve a selected temperature. A conventional thermostat 101 in the heating element network 21 prevents the heating elements from heating up over 120 F. so that excess heating is avoided.

As has been pointed out, the vibrating elements 30a 30c are also controlled from the module 33. A typical vibrating element 30a, seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, comprises a suitable container 1&9 formed of plastic and including a cover and a base 111 generally circular in configuration and held together by bolts 112 and 113 extending into opposite ends of an internally threaded sleeve 114 which also serves as the armature of the electro magnectic coil 115. The electro magnetic coil 115 is mounted on the sleeve 114 in a suitable spool 116.

Mounted between the spool 116 and the cover 110 of the vibrating element 30a is a vibrating mass 120, which has an enlarged aperture 121 formed adjacent its center encircling the bolt 112. The mass is transversely elongated and supported on a correspondingly apertured spring arm 125. The spring arm 125 is generally U-shaped so that it supports the mass 120 on one end and has its op posite end 126 secured between the spool 116 holding the coil 115 and the base 111 of the vibrating element container 109.

Electrical energy is supplied to the coil 115 in each of the vibrating elements 30a39c through corresponding conductors 3840 in the manner hereinbefore discussed. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the conductor 38, for example, extends through a rubber grommet 130 in the base 111 of the vibrating element 30a into contact with a coil terminal attached to the ends of the wire making up coil 115. The terminals are insulated from coil 115 by insulating sleeve 131. Manipulation of the vibrator switch 132. in the control module 133 causes alternating current to be directed to the coil 115 through the conductors 38-40, and the mass 120 to vibrate vertically within the housing. In principle, each vibrating element 30a3t c is thus like a simple alternating current buzzer except that no sound emits its mass 120 is free to move unobstructed. Its amplitude is limited only by the spring arm strength. Movement of the mass 120 causes the entire container 109 of the vibrating element 30a to vibrate. The weight of mass 120 and spring rate of spring arm 125 are such as to make the natural frequence of the assembly some multiplie of the alternating frequency of the alternating current so as to obtain a maximum amplitude of vibration.

Each of the vibrating elements 30a30c is mounted in the mask pad 20 in identical fashion. Accordingly, only the mounting of the vibrating element 30c, best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4, is described in detail. Corresponding reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts associated with the mounting of the other vibrating elements 30a and 30b.

The disc like container 109 of the vibrating element 300 sits flat against the fabric of the pad 20 over the forehead 31 of the user, with the cover 110 of the container innermost, as illustrated. Sewed to the face of the pad 20 above, below, and on each side of the properly positioned vibrating element 3% are four fastening straps 135. The free ends of the vertically spaced fastening straps 135 have Velcro fastener pads mounted thereon in opposed relationship, and correspondingly the free ends of the horizontally spaced fastener straps have Velcro fastening pads mounted thereon in opposed relationship. Accordingly, with the vibrating elements 300 in properly positioned relationship, the straps 135 are merely pulled tightly over the base of the vibrating element housing and pressed together to releasably secure the vibrating element in place.

As seen in FIGURE 4 also, the neck strap 93 when tied around the front of the person under his chin, also serves to hold the vibrating element 3% in place. In this light the cords 39-40 are usually laid alongside the users head 12 and under the tied strap 93 during use. Another Velcro fastener tab strap 139 on top of the mask pad retains the cord 38 as illustrated.

It has been pointed out that the mask pad 20 embodying features of the present invention can readily be used in combination with ointmentsor the like. When such ointments are used, or for example, if the mask is to be used by a number of people in hospital service, for example, it is often desirable to use a protective liner 140, as seen in FIGURE 6. The protective liner 140 is nothing more than a head cover formed of polyethelene plastic or the like and having apertures 141 for the eyes and a generally diamond shaped aperture 142 for the mouth and nose of the user. The liner 140 is roughly the same shape as the mask pad 20, and is wrapped around the head in identical manner and ties in back with a suitable pair of liner ties (not shown). Obviously, ointments or the like will not soak through the plastic to soil the pad 20.

It will now be recognized that a new and improved heating and vibrating device 10 for the head and shoulder region of the user has been described. It atfords readily controllable heat applicable to all pertinent areas of the head, neck, and shoulder of a user. At the same time, massaging vibration is aiforded at critical areas of the cervical spine, forehead or sinus region of the person, and front neck. Furthermore, the device 10 is readily adaptable to any size and configuration of head and shoulder area of a using person.

While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claim all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A therapeutic device for administering heat and vibratory massage to the head and neck area of a person, including the face, chin, shoulders, upper chest and upper back, comprising: a pad adapted to fit around the persons head, said pad shaped so as to extend around the neck and upwardly over the entire face and sides of the persons head, said pad provided with open areas for leaving the back and top rear portion of the head exposed, said pad being provided with portions adapted to depend onto the shoulders and over the upper back and chest of the person, said pad so constructed and arranged for wrapping around the person from the front and overlapping in back of the neck, adjustable strapping means for extending from the back of the neck around underneath the chin to retain the pad snugly under the chin and against the persons throat, adjustable strapping means for extending over the open back of the head for retaining the pad against the persons face, heating means throughout the pad for administering therapeutic heat, and vibrator means in said pad positioned for administering therapeutic vibration, said vibratory means including a plurality of individual vibrating elements, one of said elements being positioned adjacent the base of the back of the persons head, another of said elements being positioned in the pad against the throat of the person under the chin, and a third such element being positioned in the pad over the persons forehead.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,584 9/1955 Hariu 21946 3,0531250 9/1962 Stubbs 128-41 3,094,118 6/1963 De Besmeetal 128--64 X FOREIGN PATENTS 466,141 5/1937 Great Britain.

466,489 5/1937 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. L. W. T RAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

